Life is all about choices and attitude. Make the right choices, keep a positive attitude-- and you will find JOY through all of your ups and downs. Hope you enjoy my thoughts!

HEADER INFORMATION

My JOYFUL REFLECTIONS header picture is a picture taken on 10/20/16 on our visit to the Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina. I had never seen so many different colors of Poinsettias before... These HOT Pink ones were gorgeous.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

I am THANKFUL for...

MY RELATIONSHIP with GOD

I had so much fun going through all of my 2013 blog posts this week. Since it is the month of Thanksgiving, I decided to pick out some of the things which happened during 2013 so far for which I am thankful .... Of course, there were WAY too many to put in one post --so I just picked out some to share with you today.

Hope you enjoy my post. The list is not in any specific order. Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements. AND--I encourage you, as you read this post, to think of all of the ways you are thankful.

GEORGE (Taken on his birthday at DeSoto Falls State Park, Alabama)

My SONS and Families (Flowers were a gift from son, Mark, on my birthday)

SNOW (Hope we get more this winter than we did last winter!!!!)

GOOD HEALTH (So glad I can still hike and enjoy nature; This was at Tallulah Gorge, GA)

FRIENDSHIP (With two of our good friends, Neal and Patti Treadway); I am truly thankful for all of YOU --and the friendships we have together through blogging. Thanks!

OUR HOME and FLOWERS

There is so much to be thankful for in this photo. Our home got new paint in 2012 and a new roof in 2013. We have flowers blooming in most all seasons (Crocus, Hyacinths, Daffodils, Phlox, CandyTuft, Tulips, Lilies, Daylilies, ROSES, Irises, Pansies, etc. etc. etc.)... Can't choose a favorite --except for the ROSES, which are AMAZING.

WATERFALLS (Crabtree Falls, North Carolina--during heavy rain)

OCEAN ISLE BEACH, North Carolina

We get to the beach a couple of times a year --and love it there. Besides just enjoying the beach, we LOVE the SEAFOOD in that area! For this, we are truly thankful!!!!

SUNRISES and SUNSETS (This sunset was taken at Mt. Nebo, Arkansas)

BILTMORE (So thankful that we have season's passes. We love their sunflowers --and all of their flowers!!)

MOONBOW (at Cumberland Falls State Park, KY)

Seeing the MOONBOW (a rainbow at night) was an absolute highlight of the year for me. We had never seen the moonbow before ---so this was a wonderful experience for us on our Anniversary this year. It was pitch-black DARK outside when George took this 2-minute exposure. Amazing, isn't it?

the SCHOONER ALLIANCE (Yorktown, VA)

Besides seeing the Moonbow in June, another very special highlight of 2013 was taking a Sunset Cruise on the Schooner Alliance, when we were on our September Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland trip. Cruising on the Alliance will definitely be a 2013 highlight for me for which I am extremely thankful.

MOUNTAINS (along Blue Ridge Parkway)

We are definitely blessed to live in such a beautiful area of our country. We enjoy the Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains off and on during the entire year.

SEASONS of the YEAR (Fall on the Cumberland Plateau)

I love all SEASONS --especially Spring and Fall. MANY of my blog posts throughout the year are showing the season changes in our area... SO SPECIAL!!!!! I am SO thankful for our four seasons.

US (taken at our little cabin at Mt. Nebo, Arkansas)

This is listed last, but to me --other than God in our lives, George, and our lives together are what I am MOST thankful for. We have had another amazing year together.

Well---that's our year (SO FAR) in a nutshell ---and we truly do have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I have left out one category (can you guess what it is?????) ---and will feature it on Friday.

Hope you have enjoyed seeing my special Thanksgivings. Now---jump over to my Photo Blog for one more gorgeous photo from Biltmore in 2013. Click HERE.

A lovely post of God-given, joyful days in 2013, Betsy. May you and George continue to receive from Him health, strength, love and grace so that you can enjoy many more. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos and for your blog friendship. Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi Betsy!What a great post! I am scratching my head over the category you missed out!! I look forward to reading about it on Friday though! I have never seen a moonbow and haven't heard of one either, how cool is it?! amazing! love the pic of you in the sunflowers! x x x

What a great post. You and I share many things in common that we are thankful for. What I am most thankful for is God, my husband, my son and his family and my health. Looking forward to see what Friday's category is.

Much to be thankful for....you have had a beautiful year with many blessings. So sweet to see the smiles on your face in these photos. I'm thankful that you share these happy times with us and that we get to see such beautiful places through your photos...enjoy today and let that smile keep on beaming...hugsShug

Hi Betsy, Yes, you have lots to be thankful for - and you are! I especially like your yard - you both have worked hard and spent $ to make it beautiful. A truly nice yard for Fairfield Glade. Happy for you both in your success. Have a great day!

Betsy, What a nice and sentimental blog! Heck, I'm just thankful that I wake up every morning... All the rest of it is a plus! In addition to many of the things and people that you're thankful for...(me too)...I'm thankful that we were able to retire with enough resources to be able to enjoy these final chapters of our lives. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Beautiful post, Betsy...anyone born in the United States has a lot to be thankful for, no matter what else is going on in our life. Almost any time I am facing difficulties/sickness, I think to myself that I could be living in a war torn country, or in a country where food is so scarce my children are starving...

Wonderful post, Betsy.We all can be thankful for all that is in our lives.Like you I am thankful for my relationship with God, my family and extended family, my health, my friends and living in the good old U.S. of A. Much more too.MB

A sweet post Betsy, with so many amazing photographs. That moonbeam is a treasure. I've never seen one before and always thought they were the stuff of fairytales. What an incredible gift to actually see one. Yes, so many things to be thankful for. You and George are such a blessing to each other :)

I like your photos and words explaining them, as you list things you are thankful for. The big white waterfall, your pretty green home and flowers, the schooner cruise. What a bouquet of blessings, and we know the Source of those blessings.

you have much to be thankful for. we all do. i understand why folks take the time to be thankful in November. but i really really try to be thankful all year. because it is so important. i am blessed beyond means. ( :

although we are all blessed in our own ways - different is good. & that is ok. we have to remember to be thankful for each other & for what we each have. so important. so above it all.

You covered it very well. I do not care what others think, you two were made for each other. Together picked a perfect spot for your home to share your lives. You are truly blessed. May you both continue to have good health. That is so important.

Such a delight to read of your blessings and things you have to be thankful! I love this time of year because I get to read thankfulness posts that are beautiful like yours. I too am so thankful for a relationship with God. Without Him, I think of how we would have none of the other blessings we are thankful for :)

Enjoyed all your wonderful photos, as always! And I love the things you have added to the side of your blog and the new header you have added since the last time I had a chance to visit.

You are blessed indeed. Thank you for blessing us with your presence in our lives. Thank you for your positive, uplifting attitude. Thank you for your sense of fun. Thank you for seeing beauty, for being able to capture it in your lens, and for sharing it with us.

The photo of the seasons is spectacular. Not that the others weren't, but that one really stood out.

The photo of you and George together on the rock wall at your little cabin should be on your Christmas card this year.

Betsy, You and George make such a beautiful couple. You both are so blessed to have each other. I am so thankful to have you as a blogging friend. You have lifted my spirits many time over this last year. Thank you.